Wind turbines at Fullabrook are set to go up this Easter

First of the 22 giant turbines expected to go up this Easter

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CONSTRUCTION of the Fullabrook Wind Farm is on target for completion and operation by the end of the year, according to developers.

A spokesperson for ESB Wind Development UK said 18 of the turbines’ 22 bases had been excavated and that delivery of the huge structures themselves would begin towards the end of March, with the first turbines going up around Easter.

Each of the 110-metre turbines – being supplied by Danish firm Vestas – will arrive in seven oversize loads, six for the tower and blade sections and a separate shipment for the nacelle, the cover that houses the generator.

They will be delivered with a police escort and while a schedule is still to be agreed with local officers, transportation will take place during off-peak times of the day.

“Once they are laid down on site, people should start to see the turbines go up fairly quickly,” said Charles St George, of communications company PPS.

“Construction is going well and is on target; we expect the wind farm to be fully operational by the last quarter of 2011.”

Once complete, the Fullabrook development – being built on a sprawling site between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe – will be the largest on-shore wind farm built in England to date.

The 66-megawatt wind farm is expected to provide sufficient electricity for nearly 30,000 homes.

Devon Wind Power was granted planning permission for the project in October 2007, following an intervention by the Government. The company has since been acquired by ESB Wind Development UK.